Seeking advice on defending agaisnt cavalry with the Danes.

[timmy1992]

My formation is usually something like this:

NS: 1 Norse Swordsmen unit
NA: 1 Norse Axeman unit
A: 1 Archer unit (Norse Archers or Crossbowmen)
HC: 1 Heavy Cavalry unit (almost always Fuedal Knights)
LC: 1 Light Cavalry unit
GB: 1 General's Bodyguard.
x: Enemy
---------------x--x-x-x-x----------------------------------------------LC
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
-------------NSNSNSNSNS------------------------------------------------
HC-----------NANANANANA------------HC--------------------------------
--------------A----A----A------------------------------------------------
-------------------GB----------------------------------------------------

What I usually do is send the Norse Swordsmen out to meet the enemy infantry first, then fill in gaps and Flank with Norse Axemen. Archers are firing on the Infantry as they advance and when my infantry engages theirs, I usually make them attack any Cavalry. I'll swing my Heavy Cavalry around the rear and flanks while the Light Cavalry is pretty much there to chase Archers or Routers.

If the enemy has any kind of Heavy Cavalry, its a very tough fight. They'll either chase my archers around causing lots of casualties (sometimes routs) or get on my Infantries' flanks and cause even more deaths.

The best method I've come up with so far is to counter charge with my own cavalry, but I don't think its effective enough.

If you have any tips, even a different formation or unit to recruit, please chare.

[pwijnands]

Some spears/pike are always nice to have when you face lots of cavalry. Most people typically put them on the flanks.

[Captain Spanky]

As the Danes I found the best way to deal with cavalry is to use Norse Axemen and Norse War Clerics together. I use Clerics for this as they have very high defense, I charge the cavalry head on with them and hold until the axemen attack. If you deprive enemy cavalry of their charge then they will be decimated by any axe or polearm unit.

[Skyline Pete]

Just remember to take plenty of upgraded spear militia with you.

[Sher Khan]

I'm not a Danes player usually, but don't they get Halberds, Obudshaers, and Sword-Staffs?

Why not use them to absorb the cavalry charge?

[Skyline Pete]

I'm not a Danes player usually, but don't they get Halberds, Obudshaers, and Sword-Staffs?

They do get them but not till later on in the game. Early on they have to rely purely on militia spearmen to hold back cavalry.

[eisenkopf]

Offensive tactics like yours usually result in more casualties - but they are more fun, so I'm using them as well, especially as Vikings - ehm, Danes...

Generally, I'd suggest using more Norse Archers - they have only slightly lower defense than Norse Swordsman, same melee attacks, but their added missile skills are VERY useful against HC. And they don't cost much more!

If you're facing a lot of enemy HC, there are only two options: Fight as you usually do, and suffer lots of casualties. Or fight more defensively, relying on lots of skirmishing archers to soften up the enemy and spearmen in waiting for the enemy to finally charge.

[Problem Sleuth]

If you use Stainless Steel, Norse Archers, in addition to being fairly effective melee units, possess the ability to lay stakes and a decent arrow attack. Incorporate them into your forces if you have SS; it fills three roles in one, and they're early game requiring only the second level of the Bowyer. If my memory serves me correctly, Hamburg starts with the first level. Just upgrade that, and mass produce 'em.

Also, because they have 2 melee/12 defense with SS (4 armor, 4 Defensive Skill, 6 Shield), they'll be able to take Militia Archer hits and are nice for flanking.

Finally... Use your General if it's early game. Not only do you get nice traits for using him in battle often (increase morale is awesome), but it can serve as an incredibly effective assault unit. Powerful charge/attack/armor, better than most HC. Although I wouldn't recommend trying to take out enemy cavalry with him, if you're not really close to the enemy I'd suggest harrassing armored melee with them, using Norse Archers to destroy groups of Militia, and you can probably annihilate them from there with enough people to spare to destroy flanking cav... Especially if you have your general in a good position to charge.